Tasmania Police get hi-tech drones to fight crime

There will be fewer places left to hide for suspects following the launch of Tasmania Police’s new hi-tech weapons.

A FLEET of drones has joined Tasmania Police as hi-tech weapons to fight crime and improve public safety.

Sixteen drones have been stationed across the state ready to undertake overhead surveillance or help emergency rescuers track down people lost in bush or at sea.

Chief pilot Mark Forteath said the drones were equipped with day and night cameras, thermal imaging cameras, 3D mapping and microphones to communicate with targets.

“There’s a myriad of things we can do with these, even at this early stage of the rollout,” Senior Sergeant Forteath said.

The 16 drones are the first stage of a four-year $400,000 project, with more drones already on order.

Snr Sgt Forteath said they would be a great aid for search and rescue teams.

“We have a number of remote locations in Tasmania where these drones could potentially speed up searches dramatically,” he said.

He said that, as well as locating people, the drones could be used to drop life jackets to people at sea or essentials such as food and water to anyone stranded in locations which were difficult to access.

The fleet of drones, which are worth between $4,500 and $20,000 each, have an extensive range of flight but can only be operated within an operator’s visual line of sight – in accordance with rules set by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Training has already been undertaken by 17 police officers statewide and the drones will be in action by the middle of this month.

Tasmanian police officer Senior Sergeant and chief pilot Mark Forteath shows off a new drone that is being used throughout the state. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Acting Police Commissioner Scott Tilyard said that drones would be used across the areas of: Road

and Public Order Services, Forensic Services, Search and Rescue and Marine.

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He said they could gather intelligence on suspects evading police and illegal trail bike riding. They could also gather crucial evidence from crash scenes in just minutes - as opposed to closing roads to the general public for several hours.

Police Minister Mark Shelton said the current fleet of drones and training had cost $100,000, and more were to come under the Government’s $400,000 commitment.

“This has the potential to increase public safety,” Mr Shelton said, in his first appearance as police minster since the State Government’s Cabinet reshuffle last week.